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Unlock the Secret to Composing Perfect Tihais
Once you are familiar with the concept of a Tihai, it's time to learn the most exciting part: how to create your own! The beauty of a Tihai lies in its perfect mathematical structure, and the formula to achieve this is surprisingly simple.
If you are new to this concept and want to first understand what a Tihai is, its different types, and why it’s so important, we recommend reading our introductory guide first. Once you have the basics down, this formula guide will make perfect sense.
In this guide, we will teach you the universal, step-by-step "Magic Formula" that will empower you to compose any kind of Tihai for any taal.
The Core Formula: The Heart of Every Tihai
At its core, every Tihai is built on a single, powerful formula. This formula helps you balance the three repeating phrases (Pallas) and the two gaps (Dams) between them.
The Master Tihai Formula
(Phrase Length × 3) + (Gap Length × 2) = Total Tihai Length
1. 5-Beat Bedam Tihai (The Gapless Tihai)
A Bedam Tihai is played continuously without any pause between the three repeating phrases (pallas). This creates a feeling of directness and energy.
Example in Tritaal (16 beats):
- Total Tihai Length: 5 beats.
- Starting Beat: (16 + 1) - 5 = 12th Beat.
- Phrase Length: 5 ÷ 3 = 1 2/3 beats.
- Authoritative Bols: A classic phrase for this length is
Dha S S S Dha.
The Structure: The phrase (Dha S S S Dha) is repeated three times back-to-back, starting from the 12th beat.
| 1-11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ... | (DhaSSS Dha DhaSSS Dha DhaSSS Dha) | ||||
(The three phrases must be played evenly across the 5 beats.)
2. 5-Beat Damdar Tihai (The Gapped Tihai)
A Damdar Tihai uses pauses (dam) between its phrases to create suspense and a more graceful feel. You have creative freedom to choose your phrase and gap lengths.
Example in Tritaal (16 beats):
- Total Tihai Length: 5 beats.
- Starting Beat: (16 + 1) - 5 = 12th Beat.
- Choose a Phrase Length: Let's choose a simple and powerful 1-beat phrase:
Dha. - Calculate the Gap Length (using the Master Formula):
(1 × 3) + (Gap Length × 2) = 5
3 + (Gap Length × 2) = 5
Gap Length × 2 = 2 => Gap Length = 1 beat.
The Structure: Dha (1 beat gap) Dha (1 beat gap) Dha.
| 1-11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ... | Dha | S (Pause) | Dha | S (Pause) | Dha |
How to Practice Creating Tihais
To master the art of the Tihai, focus on these fundamental steps:
- Start with Padhant: Before playing, always recite the Tihai aloud while keeping the taal's beat with your hands. This internalizes the structure and timing.
- Use a Metronome or Lehra: Practice with a steady tempo reference to ensure your phrases and pauses are perfectly timed. This is the key to landing accurately on the Sam.
- Begin with Simple Bols: Don't start with complex phrases. Use simple bols like "Dha" or "Na" to build your Tihai. Once you are comfortable with the math, you can create more elaborate phrases.
- Listen to the Masters: Actively listen to how great artists use Tihais. Notice their timing, the bols they use, and the emotional impact they create.
Conclusion
The 5-beat Tihai is a versatile and beautiful composition. By understanding the difference between its Bedam and Damdar forms, you can add incredible variety and emotion to your playing. Practice both types to master the art of rhythmic expression.
